While leaking pipes may seem like nothing more than an annoyance, over time these leaks can lead to extensive water damage and even flooding in your Atlanta home. This will also cause major restoration projects. To help prevent pipes from leaking, here are a few things you can do:
Excess water pressure puts a lot of stress on pipes. Pipes are not designed to have any give, so they do not respond well to increases in water pressure. If the water pressure in your plumbing system exceeds 60 psi for extended amounts of time, pipes can spring leaks or burst. If you are unsure what the water pressure going into your home is, you can install a water pressure gauge that will give you a reading of the water pressure. Residential water pressure should never exceed 80 psi. If you have high water pressure in your home, you should have a water pressure-reducing valve installed.
Hard water has high mineral content, and mineral buildup inside of pipes will cause corrosion. Installing a water softener can help prevent damage to your pipes by removing excess minerals from the water. This will prevent the buildup of minerals, and help extend the life and structural integrity of pipes. Water softeners create an ion exchange between positively charged calcium and magnesium in the water and negative charged resin beads located in the softener. A salt tank is used to make brine that removes the collected minerals from the resin beads, and flushes them out. Without so much buildup inside, water will be able to flow freely and easily through pipes, reducing the pressure on them and slowing down the corrosion process.
Pipe connections are prone to leaks if they are not connected tightly and sealed properly. To adequately seal connections and joints, there should be tight fittings, and the use of both tape and pipe joint compound should be utilized. Joints on chrome trap assemblies rely on rubber slip joint washers to provide a seal, but often leak. You should consider having the new slip joint washers put in every few years to prevent leaks from aging. Check fittings regularly and make sure they are tight, and properly seal joints and reinforce those sealing periodically to prevent pipes from leaking.
If you find yourself dealing with leaky pipes, or water damage restoration of any kind, Serenity Restoration is here for you. We understand that no matter how proactive you are, water damage can still strike at any time, and that is why we offer 24/7 emergency response services. Our trained technicians can assess the source of the water damage, get it stopped, and then fully clean and restore the affected area. We use state-of-the-art equipment to ensure complete drying so we can give you and your home the best results possible. Don’t let leaky pipes go unresolved, and don’t waste any time responding to water damage restoration by calling Serenity Restoration right away.
